The Auburndale Improvement Association, Inc. is a civic association in its 104th year. It works to make the neighborhoods of Auburndale and Western Bayside great place to live.

Currently, our organization is pressing to have southern Auburndale contextually rezoned in order to curb inappropriate development. With strong support from Councilman Tony Avella and State Senator Frank Padavan, as well as community boards 7 and 11, we hope that this rezoning plan will be announced and enacted some time this year.

Another issue that causes great concern is the issue of community facilities and their impact on residential areas. One example is a day-care center planned for a small corner lot at Francis Lewis Boulevard and 42nd Avenue. Only two on-site parking spaces are proposed for a facility that will service at least 175 children daily. There will be no place to safely discharge these two- through six-year-old kids.

There will also be a windowless sub-cellar that will house a gymnasium. New regulations prohibit children in a sub-cellar, from what we have been told. Our organization will monitor this concern.

And here is another issue: we are currently supporting our colleagues of the Station Road civic Association in their efforts to have the concrete barrier replaced at the gate of helms Brothers Auto Service Dealership at the intersection of Auburndale Lane and Station Road. The barrier was removed despite an agreement to keep this particular gate closed due to safety concerns, as trucks and other vehicles now enter and exit through this gate from narrow streets.

These are just a few of the problems facing the Auburndale community. Similar problems are occurring all over the city. I urge everyone to join their local civic association and work together with your neighbors to insure that your communities are respected and beautiful so that everyone can enjoy a better quality of life.